Apparatus for cutting channels in road surfaces



May 30, 1944. F. J. FARRELL 2,349,949

APPARATUS FOR CUTTING CHANNELS IN ROAD SURFACES Filed Dec. 14, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FRANCIS J. FARRELL INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

May 30, 1944. F. J. FARRELL APPARATUS FOR CUTTING CHANNELS IN ROAD SURFACES Filed Dec. 14, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FRANCIS J. FARRELL I N VENTOR.

A TTOR NEY.

May 30, 1944. F, J. FARRELL 2,349,949

APPARATUS FOR CUTTING- CHANNELIS IN ROAD SURFACES Filed Dec. 14, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FRANCIS JFARREIIU I NVEN TOR.

ATTORNEY May- 30, 1944. F. J. FARRELL APPARATUS- FOR CUTTING CHANNELS IN ROAD SURFACES Filed Dec. 14, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ERANG 18 J. FARRELL m4 INVENTOR.

Y zmvwa Q Ii ATTOR NE Y.

May 30, 1944. v F. J. FARRELL 2,349,949

APPARATUS FOR CUTTING CHANNELS IN ROAD SURFACES Filed D80. 14, 1942 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 46 N1 N I 7 7 P I 160. fi g w ATTORNEY.

Patented May 30, 1944 APPARATUS FOR CUTTING CHANNELS IN ROAD SURFACES Francis J. Farrell, Burlington, N. J., assignor to Far-Lin Inc., Burlington,

New Jersey N. J a corporation of Application December 14, 1942, Serial Ne. 469.02 6 6 Claims. (01. 262-19) My invention relates to apparatus for cutting channels of predetermined depth and width in the surface of roads for the reception of material contrasting with the road, and having a firm bond therewith, to the end that the road surface may be, relatively speaking, permanently marked in any desired design.

It is now the practice, and it has been for years, to paint lines of predetermined widths for the purpose of dividing highways off into trafiic lanes, for ordering vehicles to stop at given intersections, for indicating a curve, or for indicating a speed limit, etc. Such painted markings must be renewed at relatively frequent intervals due to the fact that they wear out rapidly, and their frequent application interrupts traffic while the paint is still wet. Also, before'they are renewed, such painted markings usually pass through a period of very poor visibility thus being practically worthless. To this should be added the expense of repeated application of the painted markings.

.I have invented, and in a separate application I have disclosed, a novel composition which becomes plastic, when heated, but which sets rapidly and is capable of forming a firm bond with the road. This material is white so as to make a good contrast with asphalt roads and it is as durable as, or moredurable'than the road surface itself. Furthermore, it retains its white color permanently since the constant passage of vehicles .over the markings serves to polish the surface of the marking material and thus keeps it white.

It is, therefore, an object of my invention to provide a compact, easily handled, easily constructed, durable and easily maneuverable apparatus which can be operated over the highway surface by its own motive power and with a mini mumof personal attention on the part of the operator or operators.

,A further object of my invention is to produce an apparatus which is equally adapted for. cutting straight or rectilinear channels, as well as for cutting curvilinear channels, and whether such channels be intermittent or continuous.

, Afurther object of my invention is to provide a self-contained unit which not only cuts a channel in the road but, which also collects the resulting debris as the work progresses, said debris to'be disposed of convenientlyfrom time to time.

My invention still further relates to apparatus of the character stated which produces a channel having neatly trimmed .vertical walls, and

horizontal surface edges so that when the mark.

ing composition is laid in the channel it will sent a neat trim outline.

Incutting chanels in road surfaces, even if they be covered with asphalt, it is not infrequent to find small stones'and other hard objects. In orderznot to interrupt operation or damage the cutting devices, I have provided my novel apparatus with cushioning means by means of which the cutting devices are yieldably mounted to prevent breakage or interruption.

Other novel features of constructionand advantages will be more clearly understood from consideration of the specification in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

pro

; 1 Fig. 1 is a diagrammatical top plan view of an apparatus embodying my invention;

.Fig. 2 is adiagrammatical side elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, certain parts being omitted or broken away Fig. 3 is a view partly in front elevation and partly in vertical section of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the device forming part of my invention;

Fig.5 is a section on line V--V of Fig. 4;

, Fig. 6 is a section on line VIVI of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of one of the cutters shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6;

. Fig. 8 is a diagrammatical rear end elevation of the apparatus;

Fig. 8a is a diagrammatical view in end elevation showing certain details of assembly;

. Fig. 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view on line IXIX of Fig. 11. showing details of a guiding mechanism; 7

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9 showing the apparatus adjusted to cutting a channel of smaller depth than that illustrated in Fig. 9; I

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary end diagrammatical top plan view of the guiding mechanism illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10; and,

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary section on line XII- XII of Fig, 11. a

. Referring to the drawings in which like reference charactersindicate like parts, and more particularly to Figs; 1 and 2, l4 designates a frame member which, at its rear end, is connected to and supports an integral casing l6 and which, at the front end thereof, terminates in an annular member l8 which forms a guide and bearing for the hub 26 of the yoke 22, the annular member 18 being retained in position by the plate 24 bolted or otherwise secured as at 26. In order to lighten the construction, the'hub 20 is made hollow as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The yoke 22 cutting supports, on its upper side, any desired engine or motor 28 which is provided with the two drive shafts 30 and 32. The shaft 30 drives the pulley 34 over which runs the belt 36 and the shaft 32 drives the pulley 38 over which runs the belt 40 (see Fig. 3). These pulleys and their drive belts will be further referred to. The yoke 22 is provided with the opposite arms 42 and 44 which conveniently carry axes 50 on which are mounted the front supporting wheels 46. 52 designates a shaft which is provided with the square ends 54 and which carries the outer cutting discs 56 between which is confined any desired number of toothed cutters CI, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C1, C8, etc. As will be later explained, the number of cutters can be varied according to the width of the channel to be cut in the road bed. The discs 56 serve as the outermost or edge cutters to define the outer edges of the channels and, as will be seen from Figs. 3 and 4, are of a larger diameter than the cutters C, 01, C2, C3, etc. The outer faces of the discs 56 are straight so as to cut a square edge and, by penetrating deeper into the road bed, the discs 55 cut a slightly deeper edge groove which receives the soft plastic in its heated state thereby forming an interlocking key for the ma-. terial more firmly to bind. the material and to make a water-tight joint. In Figs. 4 and 6, respectively, I have shown twelve and four of the cutters C, CI C2, C3, etc., assembled between the discs 56 in order to show their operative interrelationsh p. and inF g. 7 I have shown a side elevation of oneof the. cutters, such as, C. It will be noted that each. of the cutters is provided with a. keyway 58 which is adapted to engage the .key 60 but it will be understood that the keyways 58 of therespective cuttersQCLGZ, etc.,.are staggered with respect to one another soyas to produce the equidistant disposition of the cuttingedgesshown in Fig, 5. The. cutters. inFig. 4, in cooperation with the disc 55,- are adaptedv to .cut a channel. having a width of 10 inches, which probably rep resents the maximum that will be needed in actual use. As shown in 6, thecutters C, CI, G2,; etc., are adapted to cuta channel of 4 inches in width. It wiliibe. understood that. the number of cutters can beadjusted to any desired width. In order to provide for. rapid. and; easy change of the number of cutters, C, Cls, C2, G3, etc., I have designed the demountable construction which will now be described. .This demountable construction isbest. seenin Figs. .3 and 3a., from which it will be seen that I use asplitsocket comprising the rear portion 64 .and the front removable portion 66, joined along. the line 61, thetwo being. assembled by means of .the bolts The rear portion 64 isprovidedwith an ex.- tension I in the periphery of. which is provided a ball-racesupportihg the ball bearings I2. The extension I0; is providedwith a reduced member I4, which carries the pulley 16, over which travels. the; drive belt. 36. The extension I0, and the ball bearings carried thereby, are contained. within the housing I8 whichslidesvertically within the tracks 00. 82 designates a spring, the lower end of which is anchored on topof the housing I8, the upper endof which is confined in a recess in thelower end of the block 84. The block 84. is engaged at its upper end by. the adjusting screw 8-5 which is provided withthe supporting nut 88 and retained by the locking nuts 90. The spring. 82 acts as a shock absorber to permit the shaft 52 and the cutters. and discs carried thereby to respond to variations or: obstructions which may be encountered in the roadbed. .As will be seen from Fig. 2, the pulley 38 drives the pulley 92 by means of the belt 40. The pulley 92 is journalled in a bracket 54 suitably secured to the frame I4 of the engine. From the pulley 92 extends the flexible shaft 05 which drives a conventional differential (such as that used in an automobile) which is housed in the axle 98. The axle 98 carries the sprockets I00 from which sprocket chains I02 extend downwardly to drive the sprockets I04 which are secured to the rear wheels I06. The rear wheels I00 rotate about the stub shafts 1 08. The frame I4 supports a seat IIO which is only shown diagrammatically and on which the operator of the machine sits. Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, the yoke 22 is provided with the rear extension I I2 within which is provided the dovetail groove H4 in which is disposed the slide H6. The slide H6 carriesv the axle IIB which in turn supports the wheel I20. I22 designates a foot pedal which is journalled on the axle I24 and whichis provided withthe cam I26. The cam I26 is adapted to 'bear upon the top of the slide HE, as shown in dotted position in Fig. 2. The purpose of this foot pedal will be later discussed.

To the opposite ends of the main frame I4 are secured the brackets I28 to the lower ends of which is secured the yoke I30 by the bolts or the like I32, see Fig. 9. The yoke I30 is provided with the slot I34 in which is. slid'ably mounted the end I36 of the bracket I38. The bracket I38 is extended downwardly to form the spacer I40, the outer edge of which is curved as at I42. I44 designates another spacer which is secured to the shoe I40 by the bolt I46. As will be seen from Fig. 11-, the spacers I40 and I44 are in the nature of adjustable memberssince they are provided with the auxiliary holes I48 which may be engaged by the bolts I46 in a manner and for a purpose hereinafter described. To the outer edges of the spacers I40 and I44are secured the plates E50 and I52. provided with pendant shoes I54 which are adapted to contact the verticaledges of a channel I55 cut in the road. bed. I 58-. The spacers I40 an'd i 24 move along on the bottom I60. of the channel dug in the road bed as shown inFigs. 9, .10, and 12. The plates I-50'and. I52 arealso provided-with the upper flanges I614 by means of which they are secured: to the blocks I and I68 by means of the bolts or the like I10.

The assembly of spacers I40 and I44 and the. plates. I50 and I52 and their adjuncts is connected to the frame. I4 by means of links I72 engaging the eyes I14 and connected at their other ends to suitable points of the. frame I4. Within the chamber I-o is'pos'itioned aremovable container. such as a drawer I15 having handles I'I6,.said container beingprovided with an opening, not shown, into which leads the chute. H8. A- conventional steering apparatus, generally designated. by the numeral I55 and having a steering column: .I 82; i's'provided for'directing the apparatus. The column I82- is provided with asteering wheel, not shown.

The operationiis as follows: The cutting apparatus :isadjusted .to thedesiredh'eight with reference. to thesurface of the road I58 so as topr'edetermine the depth of fthechannel to be cutand this can be .done by the adjusting mechanism illustratedtinFig. 3. 'Iihe'iengine-34is then'star-ted to drive-the wheels I05 as we'll-as thecutters' C.

C I, C2 C5; etc., .and'the discs 55; The: apparatus 1 56: cutsomewhat'rdeepenthanthe intervenlng cut The plates I50 and: I52 are ters so as to form aslot at the bottom of the vertical walls of the channelinto which the-marking material is adapted to be received thus forming an interlocking bond and a watertightjoint. Referring to Fig. 9, it willbe seen that the shoes I54, adjusted to the proper width, abut against thevertical walls of the channel to smooth the latter while the blocks I66 and I68, forming a right-angled joint-with the shoes I54, smooth the upper or horizontal surface edges of the channel. This produces a square cut and neatly trimmed channel. 7 l

It will be understood that a suitableheating apparatus precedes the channel-cuttingapparatus on the surface of the highway to soften or scorch the asphalt to be cut, thereby greatly facilitating the task of the discs 56 and the cutters therebetween. The cutting apparatus shown in Fig. 3 is driven at a relatively high rate of speed while the apparatus itself moves along the highway at a relatively slower rate of speed, the two speeds being synchronized. This is accomplished by conventional gear reduction and differential mechanisms which need not be shown or described in detail. The small pieces of charred or scorched asphalt or other filler material cut from the surface of the road are thrown backwardly by the centrifugal action of the cutters, onto the chute I18 which guides this debris into the removable drawer or container I75 in the chamber It. In the event that the cutting apparatus is obstructed by a stone or other hard material, the yielding suspension (spring 82) allows the cutters to yield, thus preventing damage to the cutters and preventing interruption of operation.

Such occasional hard spots can be removed by the attendant crew. However, since this apparatus is devised for cutting a relatively shallow channel in asphalt covered surfaces, which channel is perhaps about an inch deep, such contingencies are not likely to cause much difficulty. Since it is probably desirable, in the interests of economy, to provide a road surface with intermittent marks, as distinguished from continuous markings, I have made provision for putting the cutters out of operation while the apparatus moves over the surface in which it is not desired to cut a channel. This is accomplished by applying pressure on the foot pedal I22 to depress the axle H8 and thus relatively raise the cutters out of contact with the road surface. In order to enable the apparatus to take the curves usually encountered on highways, I have provided the shoes I54 with curvilinear outer edges of a radius calculated to be sufficient to compensate for turns in the road. The spacers I40 and I44 having adjustable relationship to the shoes I54, as clearly shown in Figs. 9 to 12, permit adjustment of the apparatus to channels of various widths and by omitting some of the cutters C, CI, C2, C3, etc., the cutting devices are also adjusted to the same width as clearly shown in Fig. 6.

I also have devised very simple means for adjusting the depth of the channel to be cut, in addition to the availabl adjustment illustrated in Fig. 3, and this is accomplished by merely reversing the yoke I30. Thus, in Fig. 9, the brackets I28 are seated in recesses I3I formed in the upper surface of the yoke I30, as shown in Fig. 9, and this results in spacing the shoes I54 vertically only the thickness of the blocks I66 and I68. If, however, the bolts I32 are disengaged and the yoke I30 is reversed, the thickness of the shoulder I29 is added to the height of the blocks I66 and I68 thus elevating the shoes I54 and the intermediate spacers to that extent to cut a shallower channel, asshown in Fig. 10.

What I claim is:

, 1. Ina device of the character stated, the combination with a housing, front and rear wheels for movably supporting said housing, an engine for driving; said rear wheels to propelsaid device, and a steering mechanism operatively connected tosaid front wheels, of a cutter disc assembly mounted at the front end of the machine, means for operativelyconnectingsaid cutters to said engine, said cutter disc assembly comprising two end discs having uninterrupted cutting edges and a pluralityof intermediateztoothed cutting discs, means for driving saidcutters, a receptacle re movably carriedby said housing for receiving the debris resulting from the action of the cutters and thrown rearwardly by centrifugal force into said receptacle.

2. In a device of the character stated, the combination with a housing, front and rear wheels for movably supporting said housing, an engine for driving said rear Wheels to propel said device, and a steering mechanism operatively connected to said front wheels, of a cutter disc assembly mounted at the front end of the machine, driving means for operatively connecting said cutters to said engine, said cutter disc assembly comprising two end discs having uninterrupted cutting edges and a plurality of intermediate toothed cutting discs, means for driving said cutters, a receptacle removably carried by said housing for receiving the debris resulting from the action of the cutters and thrown rearwardly by centrifugal force into said receptacle, said end discs being of a greater effective diameter than said intermediate cutters.

3. In a device of the character stated, the combination with a housing, front and rear wheels for movably supporting said housing, an engine for driving said rear wheels to propel said device and a steering mechanism operatively connected to said front wheels, of a, plurality of cutters mounted in the front end of said housing for engagement with the surface into which a channel is to be cut, means for driving said cutters, a receptacle removably carried by said housing for receiving the debris resulting from the action of the cutters and thrown rearwardly by centrifugal force into said receptacle, and means carried by said housing for smoothing the edges of the channel cut by said channel.

4. In a device of the character stated, the combination with a housing, front and rear wheels for movably supporting said housing, an engine for driving said rear wheels to propel said device, and a steering mechanism operatively connected to said front wheels, of a plurality of cutters mounted in the front end of said housing for engagement with the surface into which a channel is to be cut, driving means operatively connecting said cutters to said engine, a receptacle removably carried by said housing for receiving the debris resulting from the action of the cutters and thrown rearwardly by centrifugal force into said receptacle, and means carried by said housing and engaging the bottom of the channel, said means having arcuate outer edges for guiding said cutters in the cutting of curvilinear as distinguished from rectilinear channels.

5. In a device of the character stated, the combination with a housing, front and rear wheels for movably supporting said housing, an engine for driving said rear wheels to propel said device and a steering mechanism operatively connected to said front wheels, of a plurality of cutters mounted in the front end of said housing forengagement with the surface into which a channel is to be out, means for driving said cutters, a receptacle removably carried by said housing for receiving the debris resulting from the actionof the cutters and thrown rearwardly'by centrifugal force into said receptacle, and means carried by said housing for smoothing the vertical walls and surface edges of the channel cutby said channel.

6. In adevice of the character stated, the-combination with -a housing, front and rear wheels for movably supporting said housing, an engine, reduction gearing positioned between said engine and said rear wheels for driving said wheels 'to propel saiddevice, at a relatively slow rate of speed and a steering mechanism operatively connected to said front wheels, of a cutter disc assembly mounted at the front end of the machine, means for operatively connecting said cutters for said engine, said cutter disc assembly comprising two end discs having uninterrupted cutting edges and a plurality of intermediate toothed cutting discs, direct means for driving said cutters, at a relatively high rate of speed 'a receptacle removably carried by said housing for receiving the debris resulting from the action of the cutters and thrown rearwardly by centrifugal force into said receptacle.

FRANCIS J. FARRELL. 

